Missed doses: If a daily dose is missed, administer as soon as possible on the same day and return to the normal dosing schedule the following day; do not administer extra tablets to make up a missed dose.

Dosing: Geriatric

Refer to adult dosing.

Dosing: Renal Impairment

eGFR 30 to 89 mL/minute/1.73 m2: There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling. However, no clinically significant pharmacokinetic differences were observed in mild or moderate renal impairment; therefore, dosage adjustment is not likely necessary.

eGFR ≤29 mL/minute/1.73 m2: There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling (has not been studied).

Dosing: Hepatic Impairment

Mild to moderate impairment (Child-Pugh classes A and B): There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling. However, no clinically significant pharmacokinetic differences were observed in mild or moderate hepatic impairment; therefore, dosage adjustment is not likely necessary.

Severe impairment (Child-Pugh class C): There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling (has not been studied).

Dosing: Adjustment for Toxicity

Grade 3 or higher toxicity (or intolerable adverse reaction): Withhold dosing until symptoms improve to baseline or to grade 1 or lower, then resume either at the same dose or (if warranted) with the dose reduced to 180 mg or 120 mg.

Seizure: Permanently discontinue.

Administration

Oral: Administer at the same time each day, either with or without food. Swallow tablets whole.

Storage

Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F). Protect from light. Store in the original package. Do not discard desiccant; protect from moisture.

Afatinib: P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Inducers may decrease the serum concentration of Afatinib. Management: Per US labeling: if requiring chronic use of P-gp inducers, increase afatinib dose by 10mg as tolerated; reduce to original afatinib dose 2-3 days after stopping P-gp inducers. Per Canadian labeling: avoid combination if possible. Consider therapy modification

ARIPiprazole: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of ARIPiprazole. Management: Double the oral aripiprazole dose and closely monitor. Reduce oral aripiprazole dose to 10-15 mg/day (for adults) if the inducer is discontinued. Avoid use of strong CYP3A4 inducers for more than 14 days with extended-release injectable aripiprazole. Consider therapy modification

ARIPiprazole Lauroxil: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease serum concentrations of the active metabolite(s) of ARIPiprazole Lauroxil. Management: Patients taking the 441 mg dose of aripiprazole lauroxil increase their dose to 662 mg if used with a strong CYP3A4 inducer for more than 14 days. No dose adjustment is necessary for patients using the higher doses of aripiprazole lauroxil. Consider therapy modification

Benzhydrocodone: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Benzhydrocodone. Specifically, the serum concentrations of hydrocodone may be reduced. Monitor therapy

Bictegravir: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Bictegravir. Management: Rifampin is specifically contraindicated, and the use of carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital is not recommended when alternatives are acceptable Monitor therapy

Brexpiprazole: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Brexpiprazole. Management: If brexpiprazole is used together with a strong CYP3A4 inducer, the brexpiprazole dose should gradually be doubled over the course of 1 to 2 weeks. Consider therapy modification

BusPIRone: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of BusPIRone. Management: Consider alternatives to this combination. If coadministration of these agents is deemed necessary, monitor patients for reduced buspirone effects and increase buspirone doses as needed. Consider therapy modification

Cabozantinib: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Cabozantinib. Management: Avoid use of strong CYP3A4 inducers with cabozantinib if possible. If combined, cabozantinib dose adjustments are recommended and vary based on the cabozantinib product used and the indication for use. See monograph for details. Consider therapy modification

Dienogest: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Dienogest. Management: Avoid use of dienogest for contraception when using medications that induce CYP3A4 and for at least 28 days after discontinuation of a CYP3A4 inducer. An alternative form of contraception should be used during this time. Avoid combination

Enzalutamide: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Enzalutamide. Management: Consider using an alternative agent that has no or minimal CYP3A4 induction potential when possible. If this combination cannot be avoided, increase the dose of enzalutamide from 160 mg daily to 240 mg daily. Consider therapy modification

Imatinib: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Imatinib. Management: Avoid concurrent use of imatinib with strong CYP3A4 inducers when possible. If such a combination must be used, increase imatinib dose by at least 50% and monitor the patient's clinical response closely. Consider therapy modification

Ixabepilone: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Ixabepilone. Management: Avoid this combination whenever possible. If this combination must be used, a gradual increase in ixabepilone dose from 40 mg/m2 to 60 mg/m2 (given as a 4-hour infusion), as tolerated, should be considered. Consider therapy modification

Linagliptin: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Linagliptin. Management: Strongly consider using an alternative to any strong CYP3A4 inducer in patients who are being treated with linagliptin. If this combination is used, monitor patients closely for evidence of reduced linagliptin effectiveness. Consider therapy modification

Linagliptin: P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Inducers may decrease the serum concentration of Linagliptin. Management: Strongly consider using an alternative to any strong P-glycoprotein inducer in patients who are being treated with linagliptin. If this combination is used, monitor patients closely for evidence of reduced linagliptin effectiveness. Consider therapy modification

Maraviroc: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Maraviroc. Management: Increase maraviroc adult dose to 600 mg twice daily when used with strong CYP3A4 inducers. This does not apply to patients also receiving strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Do not use maraviroc with strong CYP3A4 inducers in patients with CrCl less than 30 mL/min. Consider therapy modification

OXcarbazepine: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of OXcarbazepine. Specifically, the concentrations of the 10-monohydroxy active metabolite of oxcarbazepine may be decreased. Monitor therapy

Paliperidone: Inducers of CYP3A4 (Strong) and P-glycoprotein may decrease the serum concentration of Paliperidone. Management: Avoid using the 3-month extended-release injectable suspension (Invega Trinza) with inducers of both CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein during the 3-month dosing interval if possible. If combination is necessary, consider using extended-release tablets. Consider therapy modification

P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Substrates: P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Inducers may decrease the serum concentration of P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 Substrates. P-glycoprotein inducers may also further limit the distribution of p-glycoprotein substrates to specific cells/tissues/organs where p-glycoprotein is present in large amounts (e.g., brain, T-lymphocytes, testes, etc.). Monitor therapy

QUEtiapine: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of QUEtiapine. Management: An increase in quetiapine dose (as much as 5 times the regular dose) may be required to maintain therapeutic benefit. Reduce the quetiapine dose back to the previous/regular dose within 7-14 days of discontinuing the inducer. Consider therapy modification

Radotinib: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Radotinib. Management: Consider alternatives to this combination when possible as the risk of radotinib treatment failure may be increased. Consider therapy modification

RisperiDONE: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of RisperiDONE. Management: Consider increasing the dose of oral risperidone (to no more than double the original dose) if a strong CYP3A4 inducer is initiated. For patients on IM risperidone, consider an increased IM dose or supplemental doses of oral risperidone. Consider therapy modification

Roflumilast: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Roflumilast. Management: Roflumilast U.S. prescribing information recommends against combining strong CYP3A4 inducers with roflumilast. The Canadian product monograph makes no such recommendation but notes that such agents may reduce roflumilast therapeutic effects. Avoid combination

Rolapitant: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Rolapitant. Management: Avoid rolapitant use in patients requiring chronic administration of strong CYP3A4 inducers. Monitor for reduced rolapitant response and the need for alternative or additional antiemetic therapy even with shorter-term use of such inducers. Consider therapy modification

Tolvaptan: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Tolvaptan. Management: If concurrent use is necessary, increased doses of tolvaptan (with close monitoring for toxicity and clinical response) may be needed. Avoid combination

Vemurafenib: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Vemurafenib. Management: Avoid concurrent use of vemurafenib with a strong CYP3A4 inducer and replace with another agent when possible. If a strong CYP3A4 inducer is indicated and unavoidable, the dose of vemurafenib may be increased by 240 mg (1 tablet) as tolerated. Consider therapy modification

Vortioxetine: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Vortioxetine. Management: Consider increasing the vortioxetine dose to no more than 3 times the original dose when used with a strong drug metabolism inducer for more than 14 days. The vortioxetine dose should be returned to normal within 14 days of stopping the strong inducer. Consider therapy modification

Zaleplon: CYP3A4 Inducers (Strong) may decrease the serum concentration of Zaleplon. Management: Consider the use of an alternative hypnotic that is not metabolized by CYP3A4 in patients receiving strong CYP3A4 inducers. If zalephon is combined with a strong CYP3A4 inducer, monitor for decreased effectiveness of zaleplon. Consider therapy modification

Warnings/Precautions

Concerns related to adverse effects:

• Dermatologic toxicity: Rashes (usually macular or maculo-papular) were reported in nearly one-fourth of patients who received apalutamide; including some that were grade 3 or 4. Rash onset usually occurred at median of 82 days and typically resolved within a median of 60 days in most patients. Some patients required systemic corticosteroids to manage rash. Rash recurred in approximately half of patients who were re-challenged with apalutamide.

• Falls/fractures: Fall and fractures have occurred in patients receiving apalutamide. Grade 3 or 4 fractures have been reported. In a clinical study, the median time to onset of fracture was ~10 months (range: ~0.6 to 32 months); the study did not perform routine bone density assessments or osteoporosis treatment with bone modifying agents. Evaluate patients for fall and fracture risk. Patients at risk for fractures should be monitored and managed according to established management guidelines. Consider the use of bone modifying agents.

• QT prolongation: Based on exposure-QT analysis in an uncontrolled, single-arm dedicated QTc interval assessment study, a concentration-dependent increase in QTcF was noted with apalutamide (and the active metabolite). The maximum mean QTcF change from baseline was 12.4 msec.

• Seizures: Seizures occurred in patients receiving apalutamide. It is not known if antiepileptic medications can prevent apalutamide-related seizures. In a clinical study, a small number of patients experienced seizures, with the onset occurring from ~12 months to 16 months after treatment initiation. Patients with a history of seizure, predisposing factors for seizure, or receiving medications known to reduce seizure threshold or to induce seizures were excluded from the study. There is no experience in reinitiating apalutamide in patients who experienced a seizure. Advise patients of the risk of seizures during apalutamide treatment and of the risk of engaging in activities where sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious harm to themselves or others. Discontinue apalutamide permanently if seizures develop during treatment.

• Thyroid dysfunction: Hypothyroidism and elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) have been reported with apalutamide; the median onset was ~4 months (there were no grade 3 or 4 hypothyroid events). Thyroid replacement therapy was initiated in some patients; if clinically indicated, thyroid replacement therapy should be initiated and/or dose-adjusted.

Monitoring Parameters

Pregnancy Considerations

Use is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted. Based on the mechanism of action, apalutamide may cause fetal harm if administered during pregnancy. Males with female partners of reproductive potential should use effective contraception during therapy and for 3 months after the last apalutamide dose. Apalutamide may impair fertility in males of reproductive potential (based on findings in animal studies).

Patient Education

• Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)

• Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.

Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.